Liberty, State, and Union: The Political Theory of Thomas Jefferson

Author of the Declaration of Independence, diplomat in France, leader of the opposition to the Federalists, president of the United States, critical conscience of the country, Thomas Jefferson is the most widely studied, fascinating and genuinely representative founding father of the entire age, a classical liberal 'philosopher-king' that America produced in the birth throes of the republic. Basani surveys Jefferson's views in the two-fold articulation - the rights of man and state's rights that represents the core of all his political ideas. While recent scholarship on the subject tend to portray a union devotee, non-individualistic, anti-property rights Jefferson, with communitarian, if not even proto-socialist undertones, this work will do Jefferson justice. After careful examination of his political theory, the readers will recognize Jefferson as a champion of limited government, natural rights, and antagonism of the states towards interference by federal powers.